Security cameras handed over

MURWILLUMBAH'S $200,000 plus closed circuit television camera (CCTV) security system has been formally handed over to Tweed Shire Council.

Mayor Kevin Skinner accepted the formal handover on Friday, from the initiators of the 29-camera system, which covers the town CBD, the Murwillumbah and District Business Chamber.

Along with boxes of records holding applications for Federal funding and details of the system presented to the council's technology chief Troy Green, Cr Skinner accepted a framed photographed of Murwillumbah town bridge/Wollumbin Street intersection taken from one of the cameras.

Chamber president Toni Zuschke paid tribute to the previous chamber board which began pushing for the security cameras more than five years ago.

“It's a great asset. It's not there as the be-all and end-all for crime but it's certainly a deterrent,” she said.

The system was installed in July 2009 with Cr Skinner yesterday acknowledging the support of National Party senator Fiona Nash and Richmond Labor MP Justine Elliot MP for their initiative and in securing funding.

Mr Zuschke said the project had been “a partnership between the chamber, council, the police and Country Energy”.

The objective had been to “provide NSW police with evidence, establish a deterrent effect and promote a safer community”.

The 29 high quality mega-pixel surveillance cameras cover most of the CBD area of Murwillumbah.